Ozempic and Metformin for weight loss?

Have you seen the side effects? What if there was something that is just as good without all the side effects? You in?

We spent enough time in St Charles Missouri to watch the spring blooms turn to summer green. As I stepped onto the Main Street cobblestone road I felt like I had stepped back in time to horse-drawn wagons and women gracefully traversing from place to place, adorned in their hourglass petticoat dresses.

The sweet scent of blooming flowers beckoned me forward. I wandered the vibrant shopfronts which seem to burst with life, offering a kaleidoscope of trinkets, antiques, and quaint restaurants and cafés with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. The Missouri River flowed gracefully nearby filled with people walking, biking, and picnicking.

I found myself immersed in the rich history dating back to its founding in 1769 by French-Canadian fur trader Louis Blanchette. During the 19th century, St. Charles thrived as a bustling riverfront town, serving as a vital hub for trade and commerce. In 1804, the famous explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark gathered their Corps of Discovery here before embarking on their momentous journey to the Pacific Ocean. Today, Main Street stands as a testament to its rich past, lined with historic structures that have been meticulously restored and repurposed into shops, restaurants, and galleries. The best place to stay for an amazing adventure is Sundemeir RV Park, but, I will save that for another time.

Ozempic, a popular weight loss drug, has been making headlines recently for its sickening marketing tactics. The drug has been targeting celebrities and social media influencers, offering them free use of Ozempic in exchange for posts or videos documenting their weight loss journey. Even Oprah Winfrey has reportedly combined the drug with her weight loss program. It's hard not to feel angered by the influence of big pharma on our culture and our health. Have you noticed the impact of Ozempic on celebrity culture? I have, and it is such a sad state of affairs.

Where on earth is the FDA when we need them? It's astounding how Ozempic and Metformin are being shamelessly used off-label. Has the chaos of Covid torn open Pandora's box, granting a free pass for pharmaceutical drugs to be misused in such a manner? If we can nonchalantly experiment with our own bodies by extending our biceps for some experimental drug, why not take it a step further and exploit the same approach for weight loss? I have no doubt that if Ozempic puts their scheming minds to it, they could eventually dupe the FDA into believing that it miraculously cures Long Covid and obesity. After all, who needs scientific evidence when there's a sales pitch to be made?

In recent years, the prevalence of obesity and related health conditions has led to the emergence of various weight loss drugs in the market. Berberine, Ozempic, and metformin are some of the most popular options available today. 

Wait! What? Did you say Berberine? 

Uh, yes, you read that right, berberine! Yes. One of my continuing Education conferences was 3 days of in-depth talks on Diabetes and associated cardiovascular disease and inflammation. Berberine was the star of the Functional Medicine conference. Why? Because it actually works just as effectively as Metformin at lowering fasting blood glucose and HbA1c, with no side effects. Berberine also shines better at protecting the liver and regenerating healthy bacteria. 

Berberine is a superior option for weight loss when compared to Ozempic and metformin. Firstly, it is important to understand how each drug works. 

Rhizoma coptidis, the main active component in berberine is a natural plant alkaloid known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic properties. It works by activating a protein known as AMPK, which regulates metabolism and insulin sensitivity, leading to weight loss. In fact, berberine is receiving considerable interest due to its anticancer activity based on many biochemical pathways, especially its proapoptotic and anti-inflammatory activity.

Ozempic, on the other hand, is a GLP-1 agonist that stimulates the production of insulin and slows down digestion, resulting in decreased appetite and weight loss. 

Metformin is a biguanide that lowers glucose production in the liver and improves insulin sensitivity, leading to weight loss.

While the two drugs are effective in promoting weight loss, Berberine has certain advantages over Ozempic and Metformin. Firstly, Berberine has a better safety profile. Ozempic has been linked to serious side effects such as pancreatitis and thyroid cancer.  Metformin can cause gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea and abdominal pain. 

Berberine, on the other hand, has fewer reported side effects and is generally considered safe and well-tolerated when taken at the proper dosage.  Furthermore, Berberine has been shown to be as effective as Ozempic and metformin in clinical studies and a heck of lot cheaper without having to pay to see a doctor.

A randomized controlled trial conducted in 2018 showed that Berberine was as effective as metformin in reducing body weight and improving insulin resistance in obese individuals. Another study conducted in 2020 showed that Berberine was as effective as Ozempic in reducing body weight and improving insulin sensitivity in overweight patients.

One potential counterargument is that Berberine is not as widely studied as Ozempic and metformin, and therefore, its long-term effects are not fully known. However, berberine has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries, indicating its efficacy and safety. While it is true that more research is needed on Berberine, the available evidence suggests that it is a safe and effective option for weight loss without any harmful side effects like that seen in the other two. 

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And, true, dietary supplements aren’t reviewed or approved by the Food and Drug Administration, they can be promoted for just about any health claim. And, when there is a new craze on the horizon, some seedy and shady supplement companies will dupe you out of your money with less than stellar quality ingredients including containing inaccurate amounts or containing other ingredients that aren’t listed on the label. Were you around when the FDA approved an experimental drug with no prior testing on humans?

If you are purchasing from reputable professional brands that are always using 3rd party testing, then you are getting what is on the label.

How does berberine aid in weight loss?

So, how does Berberine do its magic? By targeting the gut bacteria. Berberine was the number one choice for killing off the bacterial overgrowth. Turns out, bacteria that is overgrown release lipopolysaccharides (LPS) which communicate with the liver and decrease phase II detoxification. This affects hormones. Hormones (specifically estrogen) increase cortisol. Cortisol plays a role in blood sugar regulation. If blood sugar is disrupted this leads to inflammation and weight gain. So, your gut bacteria are making you fat! 

Berberine tamps down those bacteria, by blocking LPS stimulating inference of the T-reg cells. This allows for proper liver detoxification, reducing hormone recirculation, and decreasing insulin resistance thus you are no longer producing fat-producing bacteria, resulting in weight loss. 

Including Berberine 500mg three times daily as part of a diet, change can be a comparably effective approach to lowering fasting blood glucose and HbA1c as using Metformin or Ozempic, with added benefits of protecting liver health and regenerating beneficial intestinal bacteria. Research also indicates that the use of Berberine can lead to reductions in cholesterol levels. Moreover, Berberine provides an advantage over Metformin and Ozempic when it comes to weight management. Once you discontinue using Berberine and maintain a balanced diet and regular exercise, you won't regain the weight lost during treatment.

It is evident that Berberine is a safe and effective option for weight loss, and it offers distinct advantages over Ozempic and metformin. Its natural origin, better safety profile, and comparable efficacy to these drugs make it a compelling choice for individuals seeking to lose weight. 

Berberine is a safer and more viable option to achieve weight loss goals. While there may be some skeptics who argue that more research is needed, the available evidence is strong and consistent, and Berberine has a long-standing history of use in alternative medicine. 

Ultimately, the decision to take any medication or supplement should be made in consultation with a healthcare provider, but in the case of Berberine, the evidence suggests that it has significant potential to help individuals achieve their weight loss goals safely and effectively. If you would like to talk about possibly taking Berberine as part of your weight loss journey, I am here to help.

Enjoy your week and always choose the healthier path!

~Karen

Keeping with the theme, here is this week’s funny even if you do not

I discovered a shortcut today. If you put your Fitbit in the dryer, you can get a head start on your steps. I had 3,800 steps in before I put on my pants! 😂😂🤣🤣

"Bis nächste Woche" (See you next week)